Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
LYONS & TIGERS
It’ll be a jungle out there on final day of title race and Brad hopes it’s Coleraine roaring at 4.45pm...
BRAD LYONS insists Coleraine will have no regrets if they fall short in today’s title shootout in the Danske Bank Premiership.
The Bannmen, chasing only the second Gibson Cup in the club’s history, are level on points with Crusaders heading into the final day.
The Crues boast a far superior goal difference and have their destiny in their own hands as they prepare to face Ballymena United at The Showgrounds.
But Coleraine, unbeaten in their last 26 games in all competitions and with just one league defeat all season, are praying for a late twist ahead of their trip to Glenavon.
Midfield dynamo Lyons – who played a large chunk of the season in a protective mask after shattering his cheekbone in October – said: “No matter what happens, we’ll have no regrets about the
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season because we have given our all.
“Hopefully Ballymena can do us a favour, but first and foremost we have to look after ourselves. It’s all about keeping it simple and do what we’ve done all season.
“It has always been about the next game and if we don’t go to Glenavon and win, we may not deserve it. Whatever happens, it’s been a great season. There have been plenty of doubters, but there has always been a lot of belief in our changing room. We’ve only lost one league game and Crusaders have scored more than 100 goals, so it probably isn’t fair for anyone to lose it.”
While key players like Ciaron Harkin, Jamie Mcgonigle and goalkeeper Chris Johns are all 22, the 20-yearold Lyons believes Coleraine are battle hardened for what lies in store. He also insists next Saturday’s Irish Cup final with Cliftonville will be the furthest thing from their minds at Mourneview. He said: “Over the last couple of years we’ve been called a young team, but we have played a lot of games together and we have the experience of big games and seeing out games.
“All we have in our minds now is Glenavon away. The cup final will look after itself after that.”
Glenavon need a win to confirm a third place finish and potential automatic Europa League qualification, while fourth placed Linfield, just a point below, host Cliftonville.